Did that tender and merciful court ever suggest to those prelates who
passed the Act in England for the burning of heretics that they were
transgressing the sacred rights of conscience? Did it reprove the
Inquisition or send a mild remonstrance to Philip II.? The eyes of those
who are willing to be blinded will see only what they desire to see.

FOOTNOTES:

[14] He rests in peace.

[15] He is now in grace.

CHAPTER XX.

Return to Havana--The Spaniards in Cuba--Prospects--American
influence--Future of the West Indies--English rumours--Leave
Cuba--The harbour at night--The Bahama Channel--Hayti--Port au
Prince--The black republic--West Indian history.

The air and quiet of Vedado (so my retreat was called) soon set me up
again, and I was able to face once more my hotel and its Americans. I
did not attempt to travel in Cuba, nor was it necessary for my purpose.
I stayed a few days longer at Havana. I went to operas and churches; I
sailed about the harbour in boats, the boatmen, all of them, not
negroes, as in the Antilles, but emigrants from the old country, chiefly
Gallicians. I met people of all sorts, among the rest a Spanish
officer--a major of engineers--who, if he lives, may come to something.
Major D---- took me over the fortifications, showed me the interior
lines of the Moro, and their latest specimens of modern artillery. The
garrison are, of course, Spanish regiments made of home-bred Castilians,
as I could not fail to recognise when I heard any of them speak. There
are certain words of common use in Spain powerful as the magic formulas
of enchanters over the souls of men. You hear them everywhere in the
Peninsula; at cafe's, at tables d'hote, and in private conversation.
They are a part of the national intellectual equipment. Either from
prudery or because they are superior to old-world superstitions, the
Cubans have washed these expressions out of their language; but the
national characteristics are preserved in the army, and the spell does
not lose its efficacy because the islanders disbelieve in it. I have
known a closed post office in Madrid, where the clerk was deaf to polite
entreaty, blown open by an oath as by a bomb shell. A squad of recruits
in the Moro, who were lying in the shade under a tree, neglected to rise
as an officer went by. 'Saludad, C----o!' he thundered out, and they
bounded to their feet as if electrified.

On the whole Havana was something to have seen.